Combined filter and hydraulic press



F. E. STEVENSN. v

COMBINED mm AND HYDRAUUC PRESS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.II3 1920.

1,404,490, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

4 SHtETS-SHEET l.

F. E. STEVENSON.

COMBINED FILTER AND HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED Auc.|3. 1920.

1,404,490. Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

4 SHEES*SHEET 2.

USI

, Mb I W gmc/MIM ,Francia E. Steve/nden F. E.v STEVENSON.

COMBINED FILTER AND HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION F'ILED Aus.13. 1920.

1 ,404,490. Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. E. STEVENSON.

COMBINED FILTER AND HYDRAULIC PRESS.

v A P P L C A T I 0 N F L E D A U G I 3 I 9 2 0.

v 1,464,490' latentd Jan. 24, 1922.

tttt I'S-SHEET 4.

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6)?) ,hib fun-MMP r WwW/ggf FRANCIS E. STEVENSON1 OF MOUNT GILEAD, OHIO, ASSIG PRESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MOUNT NOR TO THE HYDRAULIC GILEAD, OHIO.

COMBINED FILTER AND HYDRAULIC PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application led August 13, 1920. Serial No. 403,441.

To all whomy it may concern Be it known that I, FRANcis E. S'iEvnN- soiv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Gilead, in the county of Morrow and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Filters and Hydraulic Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of presses in which the material to be filtered is first subjected to pressure obtained from a pump and then to greater pressure applied by a hydraulic ram. In such presses the material, in semi-liquid condition` is introduced under pump pressure into a series of pots, rings, or containers from which some of the liquid separated from the solids passes under pump pressure through suitable filter'- ing media to a suitable receptacle. After this, hydraulic pressure is employed to press the remaining liquid, or the greater part of it, from the solids held in the containers. The solid material or press cakes are then removed from the containers and the parts are adjusted to receive a new charge of liquid and for filtering and pressing it.

- The object of this invention is to provide a combination filter and hydraulic press of the general class referred to, in which the elements are arranged horizontally and in which the containers are associated with plungers in such manner that they may be easily operated, may be quickly separated and adjusted, and may be as readily reassembled.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the compressing members that the filter cakes remaining in the containers after the filtrate has been expressed may be readily removed without withdrawing the containers from the press and without employing removable spacing plates or rings.

In carrying out my invention I provide a` suitable supporting frame preferably comprising two heads connected by strain rods which hold the heads a suitable distance apart and rigidly unite them. In one of the heads is located a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram which is adapted to operate upon the containers and plungers and this ram is connected to a piston operating in a relatively small cylinder which is employed to'retract or pull back the ram after it has performed the expressing operation. The opposite press head is provided with valve mechanism which controls the entrance of the liquid to be filtered. Between the two heads a series of pairs of containers and plungers are interposed and they are supported by parallel horizontally arranged bars suitably mounted in the frame. The containers and plungers are so supported that they have freedom of movement lengthwise'of the press when hydraulic pressure is applied, and when being shifted, but are held against vertical or sidewise movement.

In order to move the containers longitudinally of the press in both directions rela.- tively to the plungers, and to so move the containers and plungers together, I provide rack bars which are arranged in the container supporting bars above mentioned, and these rack bars are engaged by dogs carried by the containers. The rack bars are movable endwise and may be so operated by a rock shaft with which they are connected. The arrangement isl such that by suitably engaging the dogs with the rack bars the containers may be moved thereby relatively to the plungers and the dogs may be so set as to move the containers in either direction, and at times both the containers and plungers are so moved. In this way the containers may be readily opened to discharge the filter cakes or solid material which they hold and may then be closed and sealed for filtering purposes.

The general organization of the parts is such that the several operations of filling the containers, filtering under pump pressure, expressing under hydraulic pressure, discharging the cakes, and reassembling the parts for a repetition of the process may be performed without removing any. of the parts from their supports or disturbing their general relation with each other. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a combined horizontal filter and hydraulic press embodying my improvements with some parts in section.

Figure 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section of the press on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the press with some parts in section.

Fi re 4 shows a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Figure 8.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of that end of the press where the fluid is admitted.

Figure 6 is a detail view in section on the line 6--6 of Figure 4 illustrating the connections between a container ring and two adjacent plungers.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of one of the containers.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of one of the plungers.

Figure 9v is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 3 showing particularly the valve mechanism.

Figure 10' is a detail view in section showing the connection of one end of a strain rod with one of the press heads.

The press head A is supported by a stand B and the hea-d C is supported by a standl D. The two heads are connected by two strain rods E which are connected with the heads in the manne-r best illustrated in Figure l0. lt will be observed that the rod E is lformed with a shoulder e which bears against the inner side of the head C and the rod E extends through the head and is threaded to receive a nut e on the inner end of which is placed a collar e2 which is clamped by a bolt e3 and is fixed to the head by a pin et. Each end of each strain rod is firmly secured to a head in this way. By these devices a rigid structure comprising the two heads and the strain rod is "obtained.

The press head A is formed with or carries a hydraulic cylinder F in which operates a ram Gr to which is secured a rod g extending into a relatively small cylinder H which is bolted to the head A and in which operates a piston T. The rod g extends through suitable packings which need not be described.

Fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder F through a pipe f and to the cylinder H through a pipe h. The ram G is employed to so operate upon the plungers and containers as to express liquid therefrom, while the piston l is employed to return the ram Gr` t) its retracted position after it has operate 1 The press headC, which l call the resistance head, is chambered to receive a valve J. The valve chamber j connects with a passage j, which passage is connected with a pump for supplying, under pump pressure, the semi-liquid material to be iiltered. The valve illustrated is of the rotary type slightly tapered and held to its seat by a spring 7c surrounding the valve stein and pressing against a plug la removably connected with the press head. The valve J is formed with a channel m which extends transversely through it and with a channel m which` extends from the channel m to the side of the valve. The valve chamber y' connects with `a passaUe c leading to the inner side of the head C and with a passagev c Two horizontally arranged parallel bars N, C are supported between the heads A v and C and are held a. distance apart as indicated in Figure 4. @ne end of each bar extends through and is supported by the resistance head' C and the. opposite end off each bar is supported by a frame F att-ached in the manner indicated in Figure l to the strain rods E near the press head A. These arms are stationary and they are grooved longitudinally in their upper sides to receive rack bars N, C, which are adapted to move endwise to a limited extent in said grooves. The rac-k bars are loosely connected by links g to slotted arms q extending from a rock shaft Q mounted in suitable bearings in the stand D and carrying a handle Q by means of which it may be rocked. By this mechanism the racks N and C may be reciprocated in the grooves of the bars N, C for a purpose hereinafter described.

Between the two heads A and C are mounted a series of pairs olf containers and plungers, the former to receive the semiliquid material to be filtered and the latter to operate in the containers to apply pressure to the material.

A resistance member R is bolted to the head C and a plunger S bears against but is not fixed to the ram G. The member R is prelferab-ly chambered at r4 to receive a heating medium and it has a channel r in it connected with the channel c of the head C To its inner face is secured a filter plate 7 and a` filter cloth r2 similar to those hereinafter described. The plunger' S is preferably chambered for heating purposes' and it carries a filter plate s and a filter cloth s2.

Between the plunger S and the resistance. member R containers and plungers are arranged and supported in the manner next to be described.

The containers U, U2,U3, U4, U5 are all of the same construction and the plungers T 2, T3, T4, T5 are also similar in construction. The container U5 is detachably connected with the resistance head R, while the container U is permanently but slidably connected with the plunger S. Each container is in the form of aring having 0n one side an inwardly extending flange u providing an opening somewhat smaller than that on the opposite side of the ring. It is also formed on that side opposite the flange side with an annular recess u for a purpose hereinafter described. Each container is provided with laterally projecting lugsI u? which are recessed at @L3 to receive the bars N, O by which the containers are supported. The arrangement is such that while the containers are free to slide on the bars in both directions, they are held against vertical and sidewise movement. Each container is also provided with forwardly eXending lugs a4 carrying diagonally arranged set screws us.

The plunger S which` is associated with the containerU has been before described. Each of the remaining plungers T2, T3, T4, T5 comprises a body portion V15 chambered at t to receive a heating medium and having a central channel t2 thro-ugh it. Each pl/unger is provided with laterally projecting lugs t3 recessed at t4 to receive the bars N, O. The plungers, like the containers, are free to move in either direction longitudinally on the bars, but are held against sidewise or vertical movement. Each plunger is slightly larger in diameter at one end than at the other. The smaller end of the plunger carries a lter plate v and a filter cloth o which are slightly larger in diameter than the end of the plunger, thus providing a flange o3. The opposite'end of the plunger carries a filter plate n4 and a filter cloth v5. Each plate and filter cloth has a central opening through it registering with the passage t2 in the plunger. These filter plates and cloths may be secured to the plunger in any suitable way. As shown in Figure 8 the cloth o is held in placeon the plate U by a central bushing a@v and a peripheral ring and the cloth and plate may be secured to theI plunger in any suitable way. The plate and Icloth at the Aopposite end of the plunger may be secured thereto in the same way.

The filter cloth maybe made of hair, cotton, or other suitable material.

Tt will be observed that the containers and plungers are arranged in pairs, T2 and U2 constituting one pair, T3 and U3 another pair, and so on. The container U is associated with the plunger S and it is connected therewith by sliding the smaller end of the plunger into the container U before the plate s aknd the cloth 82 are applied to the plunger. After the plate and cloth are applied, the plunger cannot withdraw from the container, as the flange o3 formed by the plate abuts against the flange u, but the plunger is free to slide in the container to a limited extent.

Each of the containers is associated with a corresponding plunger in a similar way. The larger end of each plungerMT2, T3, etc. -is rigidly connected with a container by set screws carried by the lugs a4 and in the operation of the press each pair of plungers and containers move together to the same extent, but when the set screws are loosened .or withdrawn, the containers and plungers move independently. It will be observed that the cloth v5 on the larger end of each plunger fits in the recess u of an adjacent container. In this way a secure seal is provided which prevents liquid from passing out at the edge of the plate.

Each of the containers U to U5 carries on each side a dog Y pivotally mounted on a lug u2 of the container. These dogs are adapted to engage the rack bars l O and may be set in any desired position either -to be disengaged from the rack bars or to engage them on either side of the pivots of the dogs. When the dogs are set in one position the containers may be moved in one direction and when set in another position, the containers will be moved in the opposite direction. When set in a third position, the dogs do not engage the rack bars. The dogs are independently mounted so that'any one or more of the containers may be shifted Without any movement being given to the others.

The filtrate is received by a pan Z arranged below the containers and supported by wheels z on tracks Z extending transversely below the press. Another pan Z2 is connected with the pan Z and is supported on the tracks Z by wheels z2. The pan Z2 is adapted to receive the filter cakes when the containers are opened.

Any desired number of plungers and associated containers may be employed. The specific number shown is not essential. Any suitable devices may be employed for connecting a container with an associated plunger. The devices illustrated are eiiivcient and are simple, and are preferably employed. `While T have shown rack bars engaging dogs for moving the containers and plungers longitudinally of the press, other devices operating for a similar purpose might be employed, b-ut those shown and described have, in actual practice, proved to be most serviceable. The plungers are chambered for the purpose of receiving a heating medium, but this is not essential in all cases and as my invention does not involve any special means for heating the plungers or containers I have not illustrated any devices for supplying the heating medium.

YVhen the several parts of the press are arranged in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and with all the dogs Y moved lto a' vertical position out of engagement with the rack bars, the filling operation may be performed. The valve J is turned in such manner as to connect the passage j with the passage c, and the fluid to be operated upon is pumped into the containers. lt passes through the passage c and through the passages t2 in all of the plungers and through the containers and fills the spaces in the containers between the plungers.

Thef contained air is driven out under pump pressure through the filter cloths and filter plates and when under pump pressure some of the filtrate is passed through the filter plates and filter cloths and is received by the pan Z. Then the maximum pressure has been reached at which the pump has been designed to operate, the valve J is turned t0 the position shown in Fig. 5, communication between the passage y" and the containers being thus shut ofi'. Hydraulic pressure is then applied and the ram Gr presses on the plunger S which enters the container U and compresses the fluid therein. The pressure is transmitted through the container to the plunger T2 which. in turn enters the container U2, compressing the material therein and transmits pressure in like manner to the next plunger T3. Pressure is thus transmitted to the plungers and through the containers throughout the series. The material in the containers 1s subjected to extremely high pressure and the oil or other filtrate is forced through the filters and is received by the pan below them. .lV-hen the filtrate is entirely drained off, the`hydraulic pressure is shut off from the press and the solid material or filter cakes may next be removed.

With the mechanism shown for moving the containers and plungers several diHerent cycles of operation for removing the residue from the containers may be used. For instance, all of the clamping devices or set screws a5' may be released. On the first container S, the dogs Y may be dropped into enga-gement with the rack bars N', O on the right hand side of the dog pivots, that is to say, in-the dotted position shown in Fig. 1. The pan Z may then be moved into -a position below the press to receive the residue. The operator may then raise and lower the lever Q which causes a reciprocating motion to be given to the racks N, O. This has the effect of moving the container U to the left 0r towards the ram, so that the plunger S forces the filter cake, which has been formed in the container U', out of it and it falls into the pan Z2. It will be understood that the filter cake and the plunger S do not move.. but movement is given to the container U and the filter cake is thus freed from the press and falls intothe pan below it. It should also be understood that at this time the dogs Y on all of the other containers should standin auvertical position so that they shall not engage the rack bars. As soon as the filter cake is ejected from the container U the dogs Y onthe container U2 should be made to engage the rack bars and the dogs on the container U should be raised out of engagement with the rack bars. By operating the rack bars the filter cake will be ejected from the container U2. Tn this way all of the cakes may be ejected and dropped into the pan Z2. Then by reversing the dogs Y until they extend to the left or towards the ram the containers may be -moved to pressing position and again clamped.

It will be found that a small piece of partly solidified residue will remain in the openings t2 in the plungers. This may be removed by a bar or boring tool inserted through the hole c in the press head C, through the opening m in the valve, through the passage c, and through the various passages in the plungers. The solid material thus removed-is forced out from the central openings in the plungers into the containers and a free: opening is thus made from the source of supply to all of the containers to receive the liquid for the next pressing operation.

Another way of operating the mechanism to discharge the filter cakes is as follows: Hydraulic pressure is applied to the pull back piston and the ram G is retracted to its original position, leaving an opening between the end of the ram and the plunger S. The valve mechanism of the inlet pipe f is closed so that no water can escape from the cylinder F and the ram G may now be used as a resistance head, and when force is applied to its outer end it will remain stationary. The set screws us5 in the container U5 are loosened and the dogs Y on both containers U1 and U5 are dropped to the right or towards the press head C. The handle Q is operated to shift the whole series of containers and plungers to the left, closing up the space between the ram G and the plunger S and opening up a corresponding space between the container U5 and the resistance head R. The dogs on the container U4 should next be raised to a vertical position leaving only the dogs of the container U5 in engagement with the rack bars. The rack bars should next be operated to force Ithe container U5 back over the plunger T5, the plunger U5 not being able to retreat further to the left at this time. This operation will bring the filter cake in the container U5 out into the open and it may be deposited in the receiving pan Z2 below it. The set screws u5 of the container U4L are then loosened and the dogs of the container U5 are moved towards the ram and into engagement with the rack bars, which are next set in motion and cause the container U5 to be carried to the right which will in turn carry with it the plunger T5 as soon as the container U5 has slid back over the plunger T5. When the container U5 comes in contact with the resistance head R, the set screws a5 may be tightened and the container is then ready for a new charge. The dogs Y of the container U5 should then be raised to a vertical position. The dogs of the container Ut should then be dropped to the right or towards the press head C. If the handle Qv upon without being moved from their supports. They have proper relative movements during the filtering and compressing operations and by means of the vmechanism shown they can be moved horizontallyv or longitudinally of the press relativelyto each other and relatively to the ends ot' the press in such manner as to expel the filter cakes and may then be again set to receiving position without being dissociated from each other. In other words it is not necessary in `my improved press to withdraw any of the members from the press; by simply sliding the containers and plungers on their side supports in various ways and in the manner hereinbefore described all of the operations can be performed and these sliding movements can be given by operating the handle Q in the manner before described. It will thus beI seen that my press differs materially from other presses of the same clam in which cranes and other like machinery are required to lift certain members from the press in order to open the containers to remove the filter cakes. while in other presses of a similar class it is necessary to remove the containers from one apparatus and transfer them to a hydraulic apparatus in order to complete the filtering operation under hydraulic pressure.

The combined filter and hydraulic press hereinbefore described is especially intended to separate the oil or butter from a semiliquid containing cocoa, but the pressis useful for other purposes.

I claim as my invention 1. A combined filter and press, comprising press heads. strain rods connecting them and holding them apart. a ram operating in one of said heads. a series of sets of independently movable containers and plungers interposed between the heads and operated by the ram. means for supporting the containers and plungers which permit them to slide horizontally but hold them4 against vertical and sidewise movement and means operating independently of the ram for moving the pairs of containers and plungers independently in either direction.

2. A combined filter and press. comprising press heads. strain rods connecting them and holding them apart. a ram operating in one of said heads. a series of sets of containers and plungers interposed between the heads and operated b v the ram, means for supporting the containers and plungers while permitting them to .slide horizontally but holding them against vertical and sidewise movement. detachable connections between the container of one set and a plunger of the next set in the series and means operating independently of the ram for moving the pairs of containers and plungers independently in either direction.

3. A combined filter and press. comprising press heads. means for connecting them and holding them apart. a ram operating in one of the heads. and a series of containers and plungers interposed between the heads and operated by the ram. each of the plungers having secured to itfiltering media on each end and each of ysaid plungers having a central opening through it for the passage of material to be operated upon. each plunger at one end being detachably connected with one end of a container. while the other end of said container is slidably connected with the plunger of another pair.

l. A combined filter and press. comprising a series of sets of containers and plungers with communication throughout. each of the containers having a flanged opening at one end and an annular` groove at the opposite end. and each plunger having a flanged part within the flange of the container and said plunger carrying filtering media adapted to seat in the groove of the next container of the series.

5.A combined filter and press. com )rising press heads. means for connecting t iem and holding them apart. a ram operating in Vone of the heads. a series of sets of containers and plungers interposed between the press heads. means for supporting the containers and plungers. and means for moving each setv of containers and plungers independently of the others.

6'. A combined filter and press. comprising press heads. means for connecting them and hoiding them apart. a ram operating 1n one of the heads. a series of sets of hollow containers and plungers interposed between the p'ress heads, means for supporting the containers and plungers. and means for moving any one set or any number of sets independently of the others.

T. A combined filter and press. comprising press heads. means for connecting them and holding them apart. a ram Operating in one of the heads. a series of sets of hollow containers and plungers interposed between the press heads. means for supporting the containers and plungers. horizontally arranged rack bars. means for reciprocating them. and connections between these rack bars. the containers and plungers.

8. A combined filter and press. comprising press heads. means for connecting them and holding them apart. a ram operating in one of the heads, a series of sets of hollow containers and plungers interposed between the press heads, means for supporting the containers and plungers, horizontally; arranged rack bars, means for reciprocating them, and adjustable dogs carried by the sets of containers and plungers adapted to engage the rack bars'.

9. A combined filter and press, comprising press heads, means for connecting them and holding them apart, a ram operating in one of the heads, a series of sets of hollow containers and plungers interposed between the press heads, means for supporting the containers and plungers, set screws for connecting a container of one set to a plunger of the next adjacent set, and means for supplying liquid to be operated upon to the containers.

10. In a ilter press a container of ring form having a flanged restricted opening at one end and an annular groove at the opposite end and provided with supporting lugs at its sides, in combination with a. plunger having a central opening and having iltering media on one end adapted to enter the groove on one sidefof a container and havingy filtering media on the opposite end arranged within the container and adapted to bear against the iiange at the restricted opening thereof.

11. A combined tilter and press, comprising press heads, means for connecting them and holding them apart, a ram operating in one of the heads, a plunger contacting with the ram but separable therefrom, a resistance head at the opposite ,end of the press and rigidly secured to the adjacent press head, a series of sets of hollow containers and plungers movable relatively to the press heads, and to each other, and interposed between the press heads, means for supporting the containers and plungers, and means for moving the containers and plungers longitudinally of the press and mea-ns for moving each container and its associated plunger together independently of the others longitudinally in either direction.

12. A combination horizontal filter and hydraulic press, comprising press heads, strain rods connecting them and holding them apart, a ram operating in one of said heads, a series of sets of containers and plungers interposed between the heads and operated by the ram, means ,for supporting the containers and plungers which permit them to slide horizontally but hold them against vertical and sidewise movement, means for independently moving the containers longitudinally'of the press, a wheel supported pan beneath the containers for receiving the filtrate, pan connected ltherewith for receiving the filter cake or solid material when the filtrate has been expressed.

13. A combination horizontal filter and hydraulic press, comprising a press head provided with a hydraulic ram, a resistance head provided with a horizontal 'inlet passage and another passage extending horizontally through it, a valve in said resistance head having horizontal passages through it adapted/to register with the pasand a wheel supported' eoy sages in said head, aseries of containers interposed between the two heads, a series of plungers co-operating with said containers and having horizontal passages through them in line with the passage through said resistance head, means for supporting the plungers and containers, and means for turning the valve in the resistance head to bring one of its passages in line with the passage through the resistance head and in line with the passages through the plungers whereby when a suitable tool or device is inserted solid material may be removed from the plungers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto' subscribed my name.

FRANCIS STEVEN-SON. 

